Young entrepreneurs put in the work

MT. PLEASANT — Saturday, Sept. 24 local young entrepreneurs gathered outside Etc.’s new shop to sell their very own products.

Each young entrepreneur signed a contract, created a name for their business, and learned the basics of running a small business.

They learned how to set up their portable shops, appropriately price product, and create signage.

“It was a great event that Joni [Laue Manske] put on for the kids,” LillianGrace Boutique owner Sarah Lauer said.

As an entrepreneur herself, Lauer was thrilled to share of her own son’s experience with the event.

“Jackson was so excited and had been working on his leather keychains for a few weeks,” she said.

“All of them are hand-sewn,” Jackson said. “I sewed every single one.”

“I have templates I draw on a piece of leather, and then I cut it out, glue it, punch the holes the thread goes into and sew them,” he said.

According to Jackson, it took him approximately 10 minutes to make each Chap Stick and cardholder.

According to Lauer, Jackson took the lead on all things pertaining to his adventure in entrepreneurship.

“He spent all of his own money on purchasing leather tools and actual packets of leather,” Lauer said. “He had to buy it all, hammer, leather cutter, leather needles, leather stitching and the leather hole puncher.”

Jackson’s shop was accompanied by a number of other products created and sold by other young entrepreneurs.

Some of the other products included Chalk Couture, chocolate suckers, handmade clay bead bracelets, and bedazzled pumpkins.

The entrepreneurs came from Mt. Pleasant, Trenton, Atkins, and West Point to participate.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com